Bobby Storey funeral: TUV leader questions PSNI over ‘planning’ claim

Jim Allister has posed a number of questions to the PSNI chief constable over the Bobby Storey funeral last week, and suggested an outside force will be needed to investigate various claims.
TUV leader Jim AllisterTUV leader Jim Allister
TUV leader Jim Allister

In a letter seen by the News Letter, the TUV leader said his further questions around the republican gathering was in response to claims by the Sinn Fein president that the police had helped “meticulously plan” the funeral.

As Sinn Fein came under growing pressure over claims its party leaders flouted Stormont’s social distancing regulations, Mary Lou McDonald told RTE: “It was meticulously planned with the PSNI and with others and on the day the evidence of that planning was there for all to see.”

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ACC Alan Todd later said the PSNI had raised the risks of Covid-19 with organisers, and added: “To be clear, PSNI were not involved in the planning of this funeral and did not approve any plan for the funeral.”

Having lodged a formal complaint against Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill over her role at the funeral, Mr Allister has now asked the chief constable to explain “what precisely was agreed” with Sinn Fein, if the PSNI had a video recording of the entire proceedings, and if the PSNI was aware in advance that no burial was to take place at Milltown. He also posed a number of other questions.

Mr Allister also said: “If, as suggested by the Sinn Fein leader, the PSNI was consenting to what happened, then, the PSNI is hopelessly compromised and needs to have others conduct the investigation(s).”

The TUV leader went on to say: “There is a serious issue of public confidence and concern here.

“Accordingly, I trust you will provide a full and transparent reply to these factual questions and not seek to hide behind ‘ongoing’ investigations.”